Former governor Lito Osmeña shares the results of his commissioned survey with media. (CDN Photo/Victor Anthony V. Silva)
FORMER Cebu governor Emilio Mario “Lito” Osmeña is optimistic that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will win the presidential race.
In a press conference he called at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu yesterday afternoon, he said he based his assessment on a self-commissioned survey conducted in all of Cebu’s congressional districts from April 9 to 30.
“Duterte will win in Cebu getting 60 percent of votes if elections were held today,” he told reporters.
The former governor said 4,800 were surveyed on their voting preference.
Of the 54 component towns and seven cities of Cebu, Osmeña predicted Duterte to lose only in Tuburan where reelectionist Mayor Democrito Diamante is allied with the Liberal Party (LP).
Even before Mayor Duterte announced his presidential bid last year, Osmeña lent his support to him due to their advocacy for federalism.
The former governor founded the Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI) party which espouses autonomy in governance at the grassroots level.
He said Duterte will restore peace and order in the country and end the illegal drug menace.
More than anything else, the former governor said the country’s real problem is illegal drugs.
“We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Osmeña, saying that he also sees the eradication of imperial Manila under a Duterte presidency.
He also claimed that Duterte’s running-mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is also leading in Cebu.
Osmeña said Cayetano was the preferred vice president of more than 30 percent of respondents, with Sen. Francis “Chiz”
Escudero, Camarines Rep. Leni Robredo and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. trailing behind.
Earlier this year, Osmeña said Escudero was his bet for vice president because the senator was “the only one qualified.”
Osmeña also expressed his pride and gratitude to Cebuanos. “He (Duterte) is leading the presidential race in Cebu despite lack of funds,” he said.
For the local race, he also claimed that incumbent Governor Hilario Davide III and One Cebu bet Winston Garcia are statistically tied.
“But Davide’s numbers will drop as Garcia’s shoot up,” Osmeña said, attributing this to One Cebu’s support of Duterte.
For Cebu City, Osmeña also claims his cousin Tomas Osmeña of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) will win as mayor.
Even with his survey results, Osmeña said nothing is certain until the people cast their votes on Election Day.
But with only a little more than a week to go before the polls, Osmeña said it’s too late for people to change their minds about Duterte.